Courtesy Northsong Wild Bird Rehabilitation

As things begin to warm up , the land around us will change . New buds will pop up on trees and bushes , the grass will begin to awaken with bright shades of green , and colorful native flowers will speckle the landscape . It is a beautiful phenomenon of new life .

Have you ever wondered how new plants are made ? What is required for a flower or a tree to be born ?

Plants are born through a process called pollination . During pollination , pollen , from the male portion of the plant , is introduced to the female portion of the plant . When both parts are combined , this leads to a fertilized flower , seed or plant that will later sprout into a new organism .

This spring , grab a pair of binoculars and keep a watch out for our local pollinators ! If you ’ re really up for a challenge , keep a Pollinator Journal and write or draw the different kinds of pollinators you come into contact with .

What are common pollinators in our area ? a . Bees b . Birds c . Butterflies and moths d . Bats e . Rocks

Photos courtesy Quin Warsaw . Quin is a teen nature and wildlife photographer who lives in Northwest Arkansas . He has photographed almost 200 species of birds in Arkansas . See more of his photos at SnappysView . ShootProof . com or on his Facebook page @ SnappysView .

Pollinators are other animals , insects , organisms or processes that help pollination happen . Pollinators often visit the plants , purposely or accidentally collecting pollen and spreading it to other plants . Common animal pollinators we see in Arkansas include bees , butterflies , beetles , and even birds !

While bird pollination happens less than insect pollination , it is still an important part of new plants being born . Many species of birds visit different plants , whether they are foraging , collecting nectar , defending territory , searching for places to build a nest , or more . As they hop around on different plants , flowers and bushes , they collect pollen on their feathers and body parts , later distributing it to other parts of the plant or different plants entirely .

Gearing up for

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4 • March 2025 • www . OfficialKidsMag . com

Answer : a , b , c and d